20 Best Things to Do in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Things to Do in Philadelphia. Everyone should include Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on their list of American cities to visit over the weekend.

The largest city in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, is known for its rich history, which is on exhibit at the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (the location of the signing of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence), and other monuments related to the American Revolution.

1. Penn Museum

World-famous as a museum and research center for archaeology and anthropology, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is also referred to as the Penn Museum.

Situated on the Penn campus, the museum showcases collections of artifacts and objects from various ancient cultures across the world, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean region, South and East Asia, and Mesoamerica. Additionally, it includes artifacts from Native American and African indigenous peoples, which have been gathered from over 300 archaeological and anthropological expeditions.

Over 25,000 visitors a year take advantage of docent-led tours through the museum’s galleries.

3260 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-898-4000

2. Double Knot

Double Knot

In 2016, Michael Schulson, the head chef and star of Ultimate Cake-Off, debuted Double Knot, a unique hybrid restaurant, next door to his well-liked contemporary Asian restaurant Sampan in Philadelphia’s Washington Square West area. During the day, the all-day restaurant concept offers a selection of imported hand pours, teas, and matchas, as well as coffee shop beverages by Elixr. During lunch, guests can build their own bahn mi, rice, noodle, salad, or protein-filled bowls with a range of meat and veggie options. A basement-level izakaya downstairs features speciality cocktails, wines, beers, and sakes on two levels, and in the evenings, dishes up sushi and robatayaki meat selections.

120 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, Phone: 215-631-3868

3. Tria

Tria

Tria is a group of four restaurants devoted to promoting a shared appreciation of beer, cheese, and wine. The first establishment to open and now a Philadelphia landmark is the Tria Café. Tria Café was founded in 2004 as a location where people could get together and enjoy excellent wine, beer, and cheese with friends. It offers a rotating menu of European-style light fare that is seasonal, along with an ever-changing fermentation section that features both domestic and foreign craft beers.

All four of Tria’s restaurants provide a relaxed, informal setting for enjoying excellent food, wine, and beer. They are available for dinner seven days a week and provide wonderful views of the city.

Tria Cafe Rittenhouse, 123 S. 18th Street, 215-972-8742; Tria Cafe Wash West, 1137 Spruce Street, 215-629-9200

4. Woodford Mansion

Woodford Mansion

Originally owned by local businessman William Coleman, Woodford Mansion is a stately country house and summer getaway that is open to the public as a National Historic Landmark and museum. Constructed by the Schuylkill River in the 18th and early 19th centuries, the mansion is adorned with a remarkable assortment of antiques and retro furnishings that accentuate the affluent era’s way of life.

Only guided tours are available to visit the residence. The museum, which is situated in East Fairmount Park, is adjacent to both well-known cultural destinations like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Boat House Row, and the Please Touch Museum, as well as other historic Fairmount Park homes like Strawberry Mansion.

33rd & Dauphin Streets, East Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA, Phone: 215-229-6115

5. a.kitchen and a.bar

a.kitchen and a.bar

Two cutting-edge eateries, a.kitchen and a.bar, can be found at AKA Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnuts Streets, respectively. They feature the delicious food of award-winning Chef Eli Kulp together with a creative wine and spirits program. Chef Kulp offers a menu of inventive dishes and small plates with a contemporary touch, created with fresh, in-season ingredients and prepared using an antiquated method of cooking over coals.

A.bar, the kitchen’s sister restaurant, is a 42-seat raw bar with stunning park views that sits right on the busy intersection of 18th and Walnut Streets. It serves an amazing array of dishes, including sandwiches and shellfish. Combine food with interesting house drinks and small-batch wines to create a unique dining experience.

a.kitchen: 135 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA, Phone: 215-825-7030, a.bar: 1737 Walnut Street NE Corner, 215-825-7035

6. Vedge Restaurant

Vedge Restaurant

Chefs Richard Landau and Kate Jacoby founded the well-known vegan restaurant Vedge in 2011. With a cuisine free of animal products, Vedge, a classically exquisite restaurant, is housed in the historic Tiger Building on Locust Street. The menu, which emphasizes a daring, inventive approach to cooking, offers items like Portabello Carpaccio topped with shaved kale and sunflower seeds or Cauliflower Socca and Saffron Corn Broth.

Desserts that are inventive and vegan include Figgy Cheesecake and Mud Pie. There’s also specialty drinks, beer, and wine available.

1221 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, Phone: 215-320-7500

7. Bank and Bourbon

Bank and Bourbon

Bank and Bourbon is a hip American bar and restaurant housed in the classy Loews Philadelphia Hotel. It features a spacious 220-seat dining area with rustic accents, cozy leather seats, and dim lighting. More than 80 varieties of bourbon are available in Bank and Bourbon’s inventive barrel-aging program, along with inventive cocktails and classic American fare expertly interpreted and presented by renowned Chef Tom Harkins. Traditional recipes are made with fresh, in-season ingredients and unexpected twists. For example, the zesty salsa verde complements the juicy roasted chicken, while the roasted cauliflower salad has roasted florets and is topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds and sherry vinegar.

1200 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-231-7300

8. Le Virtu

Le Virtu

Le Virtu (The Virtues) serves a bold menu of Abruzzese-influenced food, created with fresh, imported, or locally found ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. The menu is inspired by family-friendly Italian-style meals in Abruzzo. Meats are house-cured and butchered, pasta is hand-cut, and flavorful ragùs are simmered for hours using traditional techniques.

Rich sheep’s milk cheeses, fresh pasta with homemade sauces, thick soups, and slow-roasted lamb and hog meals are all included on the rustic menu. Saffron pannacotta, chestnut pudding, and tarte pognoli are some of the options for desserts. Le Virtù offers a selection of specialty beers, unique cocktails, and an exclusive wine list with wines from the Abruzzo area.

1927 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, Phone: 215-271-5626

9. Urban Village Brewing

Urban Village Brewing

The large bar is well-known for its exceptionally smooth tank-to-table craft beers, which are constantly changing on tap all year long. Additionally, you may savor superb brewpub fare created by executive chef Chris Davis, which includes handmade brick-oven pizzas made with locally produced, naturally yeast-leavened dough.

Urban Village Brewing, 1001 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123, Phone: 267-687-1961

10. Bar Bombon

Bar Bombon

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Bar Bombon introduces fresh Latin flavors to the city while building on the proprietors’ Old San Juan background. From midday until late at night, everything at this restaurant—from cocktails to cafe food options—is lovingly made and vegan. Bar Bombon offers fresh, plant-based foods that are created to order and are healthier than traditional Puerto Rican recipes. Its menu appeals to meat lovers as well as vegans and vegetarians. Along with many additional vegan alternatives, the menu has housemade tortillas and proteins made with organic grains and non-GMO soy.

133 S. 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Phone: 267-606-6612

11. The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell

One of the most recognizable images in the country is the Liberty Bell, which carries the ageless motto, “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.” The Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, had a bell in its tower that was formerly called the State House Bell.

The Bell, with its well-known break and frequently repeated inscription, came to represent hope and serve as a herald of freedom. The Liberty Bell is kept in a contemporary visitor center that uses a variety of exhibits, movies, and displays to tell the narrative of the bell, how it was broken, and how it contributed to the growth of a just and free society.

6th St & Market St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-965-2305

12. Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market

Specializing in farm-fresh vegetables, meat, seafood, freshly baked items, artisan cheese, honey, and beer, as well as arts and crafts, literature, and clothing, Reading Terminal Market is a historic covered public market.

The 80,000-square-foot market, one of Philadelphia’s most identifiable monuments, is housed in a former rail shed at the Reading Terminal and is located on the junction of 12th and Arch Streets in downtown Philadelphia. Over 100 vendors have been selling their wares there for over 120 years. Every day of the week, all year long, the market is a well-liked place to find delectable foods as well as distinctive presents and goods.

13. HAHA X Paradigm

HAHA X Paradigm

In 2012, artist Jason Chen, Paradigm Gallery’s Sara McCorriston, and Ginger Rudolph, the creator of HAHA Magazine, established HAHA X Paradigm, a creative studio located in Philadelphia. With a history of creating one-of-a-kind campaigns and initiatives, the collective collaborates with local artists and brands to create public art pieces across the city. Philadelphia Magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Philly Voice have all featured the group. Artworks created for the Fourth Street Bainbridge Green Pop-Up and the South Street Spring Festival are examples of previous undertakings. Visitors to Philadelphia can see the collective’s artwork on exhibit in the Queen Village district, which includes stunningly renovated junction boxes on Bainbridge Street.

14. Mural Arts Program Tour

Mural Arts Program Tour

Through the preservation and exhibition of modern and contemporary art, the Mural Arts Program seeks to “transform places, individuals, communities, and institutions.” The largest collection of outdoor public art in the world, which spans more than 600 feet, is housed in the Mural Arts Program and features the well-known “History of Immigration” mural.

The Mural Arts Program offers guided tours that provide visitors a comprehensive understanding of the creative process behind each mural, the artists involved, and the history of the communities so intimately associated with this singular art form. Professional guides lead both public and private excursions, which offer walking, trolley, and train alternatives.

Mural Arts Center, Thomas Eakins House, 1729 Mt Vernon St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-685-0750

15. The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial

The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial

The Franklin Institute’s large rotunda is home to the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. A massive 20-foot-tall statue of the politician is on display at the memorial. The centerpiece of the Memorial Hall, the sculpture was created and sculpted by James Earle Fraser, and it is situated atop a white Seravezza marble pedestal.

A brief multimedia presentation called Benjamin Franklin Forever, which examines Benjamin Franklin’s influence on the globe, is available to visitors. When The Franklin Institute is open, the memorial is always accessible to the public, and entrance is free.

222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-448-1200

16. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Comprising a working art school and a modern museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is renowned worldwide for its collections of American paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the 19th and 20th centuries.

PAFA’s globally recognized art school was founded with the goal of “promote the transformative power of art and art making.” It provides instruction in painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture in addition to the chance for students to display their creations in the school’s museum. The museum offers guided tours that allow visitors to learn about the rich artistic legacy of America. The tours include both temporary and permanent displays.

118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-972-7600

17. Please Touch Museum

Please Touch Museum

The best children’s museum in the state of Pennsylvania is called Please Touch Museum, and it offers families with kids under seven a range of engaging and entertaining activities to promote learning through play. A wide range of educational programs are available at the museum, including collections, carousels, theater and art, music and movement, and exhibits and displays. The two levels of the Please Touch Museum are home to engaging and interactive exhibit zones including “City Capers,” “Roadside Attractions,” “River Adventures,” and “Wonderland” that are intended to promote knowledge via immersion.

In addition, kids can enjoy a variety of educational activities such as story times, theater productions, sing-alongs, and themed programs centered around science, technology, engineering, and math.

Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (formerly North Concourse Drive), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-581-3181

18. The Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences

Scientists solve the secrets of nature at Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences via engaging displays and programs. In addition to seeing genuine birds and tarantulas, you can visit the actual skeletons of enormous dinosaurs and observe butterflies fluttering in their own environment. Founded in 1812, at a time when Philadelphia served as the hub of the fledgling nation, the Academy is the oldest institution of its sort in the West.

Hundreds of scientists have traveled the world collecting materials for its many exhibitions, which are the culmination of 200 years of inquiry and exploration into the natural history of the planet. The Academy also provides enjoyable experiences like taking part in an actual archaeological dig, chatting with scholars, or getting to know the museum’s furry, feathery, and scaly occupants.

1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-299-1000

19. Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo

More than 1,300 species, many of which are uncommon and endangered, call the Philadelphia Zoo, which is housed in Philadelphia’s historic Fairmount Park, at the intersection of 34th Street and Girard Avenue.

A number of eco-friendly animal habitats, including those featuring lions and lizards, can be found within the 42-acre zoo. Other popular attractions and experiences include the Amazon Rainforest Carousel, Lorikeet Encounters, draft horse and pony rides, camel safaris, paddleboats, and a train ride. This is a terrific site to visit if you’re looking for kid-friendly things to do in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Zoo has an excellent breeding program and collaborates with other organizations worldwide to preserve the natural habitats of the animals under its care.

3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-243-1100

20. The Barnes Foundation

The Barnes Foundation

Albert C. Barnes established the Barnes Foundation in 1992 with the goal of encouraging and fostering a love of gardening and the arts.

The public can visit the Foundation’s two main sites, one located on Benjamin Franklin Parkway and home to a renowned art collection, and the other in the Merion suburb, which is home to the Foundation’s archives and arboretum. One of the best Post-Impressionist and Modern collections in the world can be found at this Benjamin Franklin Parkway location. It includes pieces by European masters like Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, and Modigliani in addition to Old Master paintings, Native American ceramics, African sculpture, and decorative arts and antiquities.

More than 2,000 kinds and varieties of trees and other woody plants can be found in the Barnes Arboretum, which is situated on the Merion campus.

2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-278-7000

21. Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

A historic public garden and educational facility, the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum seeks to inspire and foster an awareness of the interrelationships between people and plants. Over 12,000 identified plants, trees, and flowers are housed in the 92 acres of immaculately kept grounds, which feature a Japanese garden, an English park, a holly slope, an azalea meadow, and an impressive sculpture garden, among other collections.

Additionally, the Arboretum offers a wide range of collections, exhibits, and educational programs to enjoy. Take in the forest from a 50-foot canopy walk through the treetops on the interactive Tree Adventure exhibit, or explore the quarter-mile of looping, winding, and tunneled model railroad tracks with cable cars, bridges, and model trains on the Garden Railway.

100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-247-5777

22. Rodin Museum

Rodin Museum

The Rodin Museum is tucked away between the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Dedicated to presenting Auguste Rodin’s creations, the museum was created in the exquisite Beaux-Arts style by French architect Paul Cret. Formal French gardens created by French landscape architect Jacques Gréber encircle the building and provide a striking setting for several of Rodin’s sculptures.

One of the most iconic buildings in the city, the Rodin Museum now holds one of the largest public collections of Rodin’s creations outside of Paris.

2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-763-8100

23. Independence Hall

Independence Hall

The historic location of the signing of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence is known as Independence Hall. Constructed in 1973 and now recognized as a World Heritage Site, Independence Hall lies at the heart of the Independence National Historical Park on Chestnut Street.

Guests can take a guided tour of the iconic building, which includes a visit to the Assembly Room, where the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were signed, as well as where George Washington was named Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in 1775. Tickets are available at the Independence Visitor Center and are required to tour Independence Hall.

520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phone: 215-965-2305

24. Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art

With a collection of more than 227,000 pieces and items, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the biggest and most well-known museums in the nation.

One of the most popular attractions in Philadelphia, the museum is situated at the west end of Benjamin Franklin Parkway and houses a variety of artifacts from Asia that date back to the third millennium BCE and from the Western world that date back to the first century CE. Collections of modern art feature pieces by American modernists such Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, and Pablo Picasso in addition to contemporary art represented by pieces by Sol LeWitt and Jasper Johns.

The Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building, the Rodin Museum, and a number of historic homes in Fairmont Park are also housed inside the Museum. Every year, the Museum presents about 25 special exhibitions, including traveling and touring displays.

2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, Phone: 215-763-8100

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